Key Matchup

November 7, 2004|Alex Marvez and Harvey Fialkov

SCOUTING BRENDON AYANBADEJO: En route to his second consecutive season leading the Dolphins in special teams tackles ... Has 10 stops this season, according to team statistics ... Played in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europe between 2000 and 2002 before sticking with the Dolphins last season ... Brendon and Obafemi, who is 18 months older, joined Lyle and Glenn Blackwood as only the second brother tandem to ever play for the Dolphins last season ... Last name is pronounced eye-on-buh-DAY-joe.

SCOUTING OBAFEMI AYANBADEJO: A Dolphins backup fullback in 2003 after having failed to make the squad as a free agent the previous season ... Has scored two touchdowns this season while also serving as the lead blocker for TB Emmitt Smith ... Has never played against Brendon dating back to childhood. "I want him to do well, but I don't want him to win at my expense or me to win at his expense," Obafemi said. "I'd much rather have somebody else deal with him, but if I have to, I have to."

ANALYSIS: Dolphins special teams coach Keith Armstrong has shifted Brendon Ayanbadejo to the other side of the field on kickoff coverage in hopes of avoiding a direct matchup between the two brothers. But that doesn't mean the Ayanbadejos are guaranteed to avoid a collision. "That's just the reality of the situation," said Obafemi, who played alongside his brother on special teams for the Dolphins last season. "We're not 10 years old fighting over the remote control. I'm excited to be on the same field as him and to be in the NFL together. But does it excite me to go head-to-head with him? No, not really."

COMMENT: "If it's my brother, I've got to hit him. I'm not going to hit him like [Dolphins linebacker] Tony Bua hit that guy [Bryce Fisher] from St. Louis. I'm going to put my shoulder down, but I'm not going to destroy him." -- Brendon Ayanbadejo on the potential matchup with his brother.